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Planning Your Concrete Project for Spring

As the calendar flips and a new year is upon us, now is the perfect time to be thinking about the future. Especially with the cold grip that the weather clenches on much of the country during the winter months, there is no better time to start planning out your next big home improvement project.

The spring is an excellent time to undertake a project around your house in Houston because it allows you to think about the big picture and gives you plenty of time to see something through from start to finish. With the help of Houston concrete contractors, you will have a professional team onsite to ensure that everything goes smoothly from start to finish.

Where should you start? Maybe you are thinking of renovating your backyard or adjusting your landscaping plan for the coming year. On the other hand, maybe you’re thinking a little bigger and are ready to put in a new driveway, carport, or patio. Understanding the first steps to take for your project, which you can do before the spring season arrives, will ensure that you have everything in place before the start of football season in the fall.

Budgeting and Design

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 830,000 households in Houston and more than 43 percent of homes and housing units are owner-occupied. Owning your home gives you the flexibility to upgrade portions of your property when you see fit. In order to get started on your project, you want to use all available time now for planning. This begins with setting a target budget so that you know what you are willing and able to spend on your driveway, carport, or patio.

The budgeting and design phases go hand in hand, as one most certainly informs the other. It may be simpler to start by setting a rough budget for the overall project, which will be determined based on a number of factors.

First, you need to look at what your costs will be for materials, depending on the size of the job. For example, the cost to pour concrete for a 20- by 10-foot driveway is going to be different than creating a backyard concrete patio in a 50- by 50-foot space. You can also work with Houston concrete contractors in order to get a rough estimate on the duration of the project and associated labor and equipment costs.

Having a baseline idea of what you should plan for financially will then allow you to dive deeper into the design of the area. This includes the shape of the planned concrete base and how its placement will interact with the other areas of your home. For example, you can sketch out options for a driveway leading to your garage or consider putting in one that goes up the side of your home to a new carport. Each potential concrete project presents different opportunities and can be approached in a slightly different way.

Redoing Your Driveway

Fixing problems with your driveway is an important project that many people tend to overlook. Once you move into a new home, you may not think about the driveway as a part of your property that needs attention. However, the spring is one of the best times of year to redo your driveway because it enables you to take care of any issues relatively painlessly. While many folks may dismiss the importance of their driveway, this is your opportunity to make it both functional and visually appealing. To do this, there are some areas of a driveway remodel that you should put thought into before you get started.

Consider the general slope, length, and width of your driveway. Do you want it to be steep or generally flat? Depending on what you decide, you will also want to factor in potential issues with drainage when it rains. At the same time, it is important to determine the overall shape of the driveway.

For example, you will be able to decide if you want a driveway that leads straight to the garage or if you have the ability to install a curved driveway that connects other features of your front yard. Houston concrete contractors can advise you on this process so that you maximize the value of your completed project.

Adding a New Carport

If you plan to or have recently purchased a recreational vehicle (RV), camper, boat, or other vehicle but don’t currently have room to store it, building a new carport is the perfect step this year. A carport is a structure built, usually, next to or attached to your home, and which consists of posts and a roof or other covering for vehicles of any kind. Often, families protect their RV or boat from the elements by parking it under a carport. However, do you know what steps you need to take in order to build one?

It is important to check with Houston concrete contractors in the early stages of your planning so that you can also be made aware of permits needed and if there are other restrictions on the types of structures you are able to add to your property.

You’ll also go through the design phase to put special touches on the visual elements of your carport while also making sure it is practical for your needs. Once you are approved to continue with construction, your new carport will be built by professionals to ensure quality and durability. This project is also great for those whose garages are used more for storage space but who also want a covered parking area for their cars so they are protected from storms.

Finishing Your Patio

Another major project you can pursue this spring is refinishing your patio or putting one in for the first time. Especially for families in the south, having an area in your yard for relaxation and entertainment is an absolute must. During the long summer months, your friends and family love to come over for parties, cookouts, and other events, so you should have a space for everyone to gather that you are proud of. This type of project begins in much the same way as the others.

In order to get the patio of your dreams, you want to take as much time now to start sketching out what you want it to look like. Include any additional elements you can think of, including room for your grill, seating, and perhaps a fire pit. When you have your ideas down on paper for what you want to do, working with concrete professionals in Houston makes it easy to see what is feasible for your budget and how concrete can be used to set the foundation of these areas. In what feels like no time at all you will be able to go from concept to construction.

Next Steps to Take

The best advice for planning out your concrete project for spring is to start early and research everything that you need to get the job done, including materials and labor. Connecting with professionals in Houston makes the transition easier on you and your family because your project will be managed by an experienced team that puts the needed time and effort into it until it is done.

The staff at CCS Concrete Driveways can help you with taking the next steps so that your project is a success and is completed on time and on budget. To learn more about Houston concrete contractors, please visit the CCS Concrete Driveways website or request a free estimate by calling (713) 254-1703.